"The kitchen's the other direction." I lean closer, watching her eyes widen. "I’m right, aren’t I? You’re off to a secret lover hidden away in this massive house?"
Her breath catches. A telling reaction.
My fingers dig deeper into her arms, rage burning in my blood that another man is touching her. "Who is he, Keira? One of the staff? One of your guards?”
"You're being ridiculous."
"Am I? You always did have a talent for keeping secrets." I’ll tear this house down brick by brick to find him. "Tell me, does he know what you really are? How you can look a man in the eyes and make him believe you love him while plotting his family's destruction?"
"Stop it." She struggles despite how useless it is.
"I asked you a question, Princess. Who were you going to see?"
She finally stops fighting. She simply looks up at me with those defiant eyes.
"Your silence is very telling." I lean closer until our faces are inches apart. "You know what happens to men who touch what belongs to me?"
"I don't belong to you." She pushes against my chest, but I don't budge. "And what I do with my life stopped being your business a long time ago."
"Wrong." My fingers thread through her hair, gripping tight enough to make her gasp. "The moment you agreed to marry me, everything about you became my business. Including whoever you're protecting right now."
"There's no one?—”
"Don't lie to me." The words come out as a growl. "I can see it in your eyes. There's someone you're willing to risk everything to see tonight."
Her breath hitches, and that small sound feeds the fury building inside me. I picture her wrapped in another man's arms, giving him the same soft sighs she once gave me. Letting him into her tight, warm body.
"When I find him, and I will find him, I'm going to make an example of what happens to people who touch my wife." I trace her jawline with my thumb, feeling her tremble, and while it makes me a bastard, I’m happy for her fear. "I'll start with his dick. I’ll cut it off and give it to you as a memento right before I put a bullet in his head while you watch."
"You're a monster." Oddly, her expression isn’t one of fear. No, it looks a lot like disappointment. She’s judging me and what I’ve become, and it’s surprising just how angry that makes me. How dare she judge me. I’m of her making.
"You helped create this monster, sweetheart. Now you get to live with the consequences."
She laughs. Actually laughs. Sure, there’s no humor in it. It’s closer to a scoff. “You forget that my life isn’t my own. Has never been my own. I live the consequences of the monsters in my life.”
“Poor little Keira.” I want to wipe the smirk off her face. "Tell me about your lover boy now, and maybe I'll be merciful. One chance, Keira. Who are you protecting?"
She meets my gaze, chin lifted. "There's nothing to tell."
"Nothing?" I press her harder against the wall, and I’m annoyed to find my dick is hard against her. The last thing I want is for her to think she can seduce me. "Then why did you pick the lock? Why risk sneaking around in the dark?"
"I couldn't sleep." Her gray eyes bore into mine. "Your reign of terror is working, keeping me awake. You should be so pleased. But if you had any conscience, you’d be aware that there are people here who are innocent?—”
“Innocent.” This time, I’m the one who scoffs. “Oh, sweetheart, we know you’re not innocent. And as far as a conscience, your conscience didn't seem troubled when your family murdered mine."
"You don't know anything about what happened." Her hands ball into fists against my chest and I’m sure she’s getting ready to punch me. That’s okay. I can take it.
"I know enough." I make the mistake of leaning in even closer. The scent of her skin clouds my judgment, making me want things I shouldn't. "Last chance. Tell me who you're protecting, or I'll tear this house apart room by room until I find them."
Her chin lifts higher. Her eyes narrow. "Do whatever you want, Phoenix. You will anyway."
The challenge in her voice ignites something primal inside me. She thinks she can protect whoever she's hiding? Fine. I'll make her watch as I destroy everything she holds dear.
"Have it your way." I grip her chin. "But remember, whatever happens next is on you. You could have prevented it."
A flash of fear crosses her face, quickly masked by determination. It feeds my rage, knowing she cares this much about someone else.
"Maybe I should take you right here." I drag my fingers down her neck, feeling her pulse race. "See if you're still as eager as you used to be."
